Yet as important as the social message is, and it is, it's the brilliant comedy that shines bright and comes to the fore. a comprehensive guide to ROMANTIC COMEDIES. He’s...gentle, which is in direct contrast to the bravura machismo of most men in movies from this time (eg Carey Grant in Only Angels Have Wings). It's not an extraordinary masterpiece, but as a little chunk of solid entertainment, the film certainly didn't disappoint. In addition, My Man Godfrey garnered nominations for Best Actor (Powell), Best Supporting Actor (Mischa Auer), Best Supporting Actress (Alice Brady), Best Director and Best Screenplay. Backed by a frequently laugh out loud screenplay and screwball moments, brilliantly performed by a great cast of characters. So incredibly chaotic—rich people really are insane. It was a critical and commercial success, and remains a popular screwball comedy… Continuing my way through films of the 30’s and the screwball comedy genre. I must also mention that of the 6 Oscars the film was nominated for, I'm stunned there wasn't one for Gail Patrick as Cornelia, it's devilishly icy and weasel like, and she impacted hard on me to the point that I wanted to strangle her, job done, a great performance from her.Truth is, they are all great, from the actors to the director, from the editor to the writer, My Man Godfrey is a truly brilliant film that easily entered my top 100 greatest films list today. Fifth Avenue socialite Irene Bullock needs a "forgotten man" to win a scavenger hunt, and no one is more forgotten than Godfrey Park, who resides in a dump by the East River. Free movies on YouTube, Vimeo, and Other Corners of the Internet. My Man Godfrey Carole Lombard and William Powell dazzle in this definitive screwball comedy by Gregory La Cava—a potent cocktail of romantic repartee and social critique. Meanwhile she, her sister and their mother spend money competitively as though profligacy was a virtue, bringing the astringent patriarch Alexander (Eugene Pallette) to the brink of insolvency/insanity and endangering everyone's jolly time until Godfrey's miraculous intervention signals…. One of the landmark "screwball" comedies of the 1930s, My Man Godfrey offers the radiant Carole Lombard in her definitive performance as flighty young heiress Irene Bullock, who on a society scavenger hunt stumbles on Godfrey (William Powell), an erudite hobo residing in the city dump. Certificate: Passed The cast is pitch perfect, everyone down to Mischa Auer and Allen Mowbray and Gail Patrick but especially William Powell and Eugene Pallate and (briefly Franklin Pangborne)…, “I never can think of the right thing to say ‘til everybody’s gone home.”. Beautifully dressed, styled and decorated films, Women's Day: Oscar-Nominated Mother-and-Daughter Roles, The IMDb Poll Board User's Beloved Little Comedy Movies, Most Prolific Actress Oscar Has Ever Seen. As my Month (or so) of Art Deco comes to a close, My Man Godfrey is a movie that cannot be missed for the sheer sake of its style. That studio purchased the film rights and assigned Hatch to write the script with Morrie Ryskind, who received top billing for the screenplay. Gregory La Cava was an American film director best known for his comedies ‘My Man Godfrey’ and ‘Stage Door.’ One of the most prominent directors in Hollywood during the 1930s, he was known for his unconventional direction style and creative treatment of comedic themes. And indeed, in 1936’s My Man Godfrey, director Gregory La Cava offers an exceptional amount of craziness on the way to romantic (and audience) bliss. The eccentric Bullock household again need a new butler. Some interesting class commentary in an era in which class was more freely discussed within American mainstream cinema. It was directed by Gregory La Cava for Universal and is now considered the definitive screwball comedy, with its social commentary on life during the 30s. Irene Bullock, queen of theatrics, drama, and maneuvers! we love a romance, yes ma'am we do! Links are under notes. Adapted by Morrie Ryskind from an Eric Hatch novel of the previous year, My Man Godfrey stars Carole Lombard as Irene—a flaky socialite locked in perpetual battle with her haughty older sister—and William Powell as the titular Godfrey—the down-and-out blue blood Irene impulsively enlists as a butler and shortly falls for. — Search for "My Man Godfrey" on Amazon.com, Title: Jens Åge Jakobsen 5,166 films 1,939 20 Edit, Does it take you an hour to pick a movie? 1936 Over the course of 90 minutes, I went from "Oh my God, this is annoying" to "Hm, I guess it has its moments" to "It's kinda good, isn't it, Anna?" My Man Godfrey is a satisfying and hilarious comedy. Based on the 1935 novella by Eric Hatch titled 1101 Park Avenue, this character-driven comedy, directed by Gregory La Cava, is an agile and energetic combination of cultural commentary together with screwball funniness and is particularly enjoyable. Irene hires Godfrey as a servant for her riotously unhinged family, to the chagrin of her spoiled sister, Cornelia, who tries her best to get Godfrey fired. He offers to go with Irene to help her beat Cornelia. Film data from TMDb. Godfey brings sanity a dose of reality to this spoiled rich family. Click the 'Read notes' button to see his…, List made from the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die. also when irene said "life is but an empty bubble", i felt that a lot. The film was based on a 1935 novel by Eric S. Hatch. I love stories about eccentric families. A gentleman thief and a lady pickpocket join forces to con a beautiful perfume company owner. The film speeds through its 90 minute runtime, and…. He … If there are movies missing from…, Ben_Macdonald 415 films 19,296 191 Edit, Complete list of the films Guillermo del Toro has recommended on twitter. We take a look back at cinematic history and celebrate Asian Pacific American filmmakers and their visionary work. Enjoy! A newspaper editor uses every trick in the book to keep his ace reporter ex-wife from remarrying. Then I caught sight of the disc for 'My Man Godfrey' and there wasn't really any chance of seeing anything by Lean. William Powell and Carole Lombard were excellent and played well off each other. Willam Powell in this may be my favorite 1930s leading man character thus far. The spoiled daughter of a rich American family hires as butler an Austrian vagrant she finds on a pier, without knowing that he illegally jumped ship. My Man Godfrey (1936) is one of the 1930's most delightful, classic screwball comedies. My Man Godfrey (1936) (Restored Edition) Gregory La Cava (Director), William Powell, Carole Lombard, Alice Brady, Gail Patrick, Jean Dixon, Eugene Pallette, Alan Mowbray (Actor) Format: DVD 4.7 out of 5 … David Niven steps into the old William Powell role as hobo-turned-butler Godfrey, while June Allyson does her best in the Carole Lombard part as Irene Bullock, the spoiled, impulsive heiress who brings Godfrey into her zany household. My Man Godfrey certainly looks pretty, and it has some sharp socio-economic commentary. Can I listen to a radio adaptation online? © Letterboxd Limited. Annoyed, he backs her up until she falls on a pile of ashes. One day, snooty socialite Cornelia Bullock (Gail Patrick) offers him five dollars to be her "forgotten man" for a scavenger hunt. When a socialite sues a big paper for libel, the editor responsible calls in the help of his ignored fiancée and a former employee to frame her and make the false story seem true. I've got about 500 unwatched movies here to watch in one format or other, I even got as far as putting a David Lean film in the DVD player and sitting down. Gregory La Cava (March 10, 1892 – March 1, 1952) was an American film director of Italian descent best known for his films of the 1930s, including My Man Godfrey and Stage Door, which earned him nominations for Academy Award for Best Director Career. Dear god, this is so funny. He finds the Bullocks to be the epitome of idle rich, and nutty as the proverbial fruitcake. Final few minutes had me charmed beyond belief. Eric Hatch wrote both the book on which the original 1936 "My Man Godfrey" movie was based, and worked with the director on the script for that movie. Do you love all types of movies? She leaves in a fury, much to the glee of her sister Irene (Carole Lombard). A film released in the 1930’s. Made by fans in Auckland, New Zealand. Drama. This is an electric script benefiting from great work from all involved who put the words onto film.William Powell is Godfrey, it's a perfect performance as he is never flustered as he delivers the funny lines with caustic impact. So, what better way to warm the cockles of my flogged spirits than to cozy up with an all-time banger and one of my absolute favorite films. Overview - The 1936 Oscar-nominated comedy classic My Man Godfrey makes its long-awaited debut on Blu-ray.Starring William Powell, Carole Lombard, Eugene Pallette, and directed by Gregory La Cava, the jokes fly side by side with a healthy dose of social satire in … My Man Godfrey Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. Which Supporting Actor Oscar nominees had more screen time than the nominated leads? It was the first movie to be nominated in all four acting categories at the 9th Academy Awards, and it's delightful watching all the principal parts, especially Carole Lombard who delivers one of the best performances in her career, arrive and depart. Ethelreda Leopold Reginald Mason Louis Natheaux Bob Perry Katherine Perry Albert Petit Jean Rogers Ronald R. Rondell Arthur Singley Larry Steers Russell Wade William Wagner Arthur Wanzer Harley Wood, 95 mins   This of course bemuses the family, even more so when Godfrey turns out to be far more than they originally thought.My Man Godfrey is one of those old classic comedies that has satire at its heart, for here the rich are firmly in the target sights of the makers, and it's they who come across as bumbling buffoons. If a link is broken, please leave…, This is the ultimate romantic comedy list... for better or for worse. Guillermo del Toro's twitter film recommendations, 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (2020 Edition). Witty dialogue and wonderful delivery, entertaining from front to back - what a great fkn movie! IMDb I truly enjoy some fun discourse about how nuts rich people are and no film has ever done it better. 10/10. Every movie referenced/watched in Gilmore Girls (including quotes) ! 1936: Nominations: Best Director, Actor (William Powell), Actress (Carole Lombard), Supp. Every Film Ever Nominated For An Academy Award In Any Category. Though the family is in a ludicrous shambles, his rationality serves as an anchor for the film and helps to explain the screwballishness. The scene where Irene and Godfrey wash dishes together is simply some of the most magical shit I've ever seen in a movie. Are you ready…, Jayce Fryman 18,680 films 3,483 115 Edit, This list collects every film from the Starting List that became They Shoot Pictures Don't They's 1000 Greatest Films. Former detective Nick Charles and his wealthy wife Nora investigate a murder case, mostly for the fun of it. Comedy, Certificate: Passed It was a runaway hit and earned huge profits for the studio. My re-watch confirmed my recollection that this is one of the best comedies of all-time. But I'm a Cheapskate! During a rich person's socialite scavenger hunt, air head Irene Bullock wins the contest to see who can find a forgotten man, a hobo, and showcase him at the toffs party. My Man Godfrey (1936) is the story of an eccentric Park Avenue heiress who meets a “forgotten man” living in the City Dump and hires him as her butler.He arrives in the mansion to find a positively batty mother, a talentless but hungry pianist protege, a bewildered and frustrated father, and a conniving and cruel sister. Nick investigates the case of a missing man and later a murder that is connected to Nora's family. An inventor needs cash to develop his big idea, so his adoring wife decides to raise it by divorcing him and marrying a millionaire. An eccentric woman learns she is not dying of radium poisoning as earlier assumed, but when she meets a reporter looking for a story, she feigns sickness again for her own profit. Show All… So eloquently satirizes class disparities after the Great Depression that you'll almost miss how exacting and effortless its romance is. The scene where he washes dishes is downright magical. Great script and performances, particularly William Powell. 110 of 122 people found this review helpful. Report this film, Review by vincent price was 6′4″ ★★★★ 2, "Oh mother, Godfrey loves me! Irene hires Godfrey as a servant for her riotously unhinged family, to the chagrin of her spoiled sister, Cornelia, who tries her best to get Godfrey fired. Apart from the fact I've had three disc versions plus a lovefilm rental plus a torrent over the years and I still haven't found one with good sound quality it is just about perfect. Godfrey is "forgotten man" who is hired by a young, wealthy eccentric as the family's new butler. He put me in the shower!". He finds the Bullocks to be the epitome of idle rich, and nutty as the proverbial fruitcake. What is the answer to Molly's crossword puzzle? A simple small-town man inherits a massive fortune and is immediately hounded by those who wish to take advantage of him. Godfrey's surprise backstory slightly betrays some of the noble ideals the film had previously represented regarding the underprivileged, and the spoiled rich family seemingly learn very little from this little romp, but it's fun and I like fun. My Man Godfrey is set In the depths of the Depression, and sees a scatterbrained socialite (Carole Lombard) hires a vagrant as a family butler (William Powell), who may not quite be who he seems. Written by It's also directed with the elegance of a ballet, making the whole thing feel so effortless. More details at My Man Godfrey is just totally nutty and wild. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? This…. During the Great Depression Godfrey ‘Smith’ Parke is living with other men down on their luck at a New York City dump when approached by spoiled socialite Cornelia Bullock, (Gail Patrick) who offers him $5 to be her ‘forgotten man’ for a scavenger hunt. My Man Godfrey (1936 +++++ Comedy, Classic, TCC Colourized Film) ( TCM) by Director: Gregory La Cava; Writers: Morrie Ryskind (screen play), Eric Hatch (screen play), Eric Hatch (based on the novel by); Zoe Akins (contributing writer) (uncredited), Gregory La Cava (uncredited),Robert Presnell Sr.(contributing In the depths of the Depression, a party game brings dizzy socialite Irene Bullock to the city dump where she meets Godfrey, a derelict, and ends by hiring him as family butler. My favourite of the bunch, though, is Eugene Palette as Alexander, the father of this bizarro family, every mannerism and every line out of his mouth had me in utter stitches. Reviewed by Colin Jacobson: Title: My Man Godfrey: Criterion (1936) Studio Line: Criterion/Home Vision. Explain that if you can. May I be frank?Is that your name?No, my name is Godfrey.All right, be frank. But in the center of this film is an honest love story, and in that area the film charmed me. A screwball comedy through and through. A retired auto manufacturer and his wife take a long-planned European vacation only to find that they want very different things from life. we love melodrama, yes ma'am we do! Most of the film, however, took place in a large villa, where the cinematography felt more theatrical. ", Former cartoonist/animator turned comedy specialist Gregory La Cava realized his most enduring success with this irrepressible 1936 screwball classic. One of the first and still among the best of the '30s screwball comedies, My Man Godfrey serves up absurdist romance and light social commentary in a fizzy mix that benefits from director Gregory La Cava's willingness to indulge improvisation, a trait he acquired from friend and frequent collaborator W.C. Fields. Daughter Irene encounters bedraggled Godfrey Godfrey at the docks and, fancying him and noticing his obviously good manners, gets him the job. Directed by Gregory La Cava. After talking with her, Godfrey finds her to be kind, if a bit scatter-brained. A trio of classy card sharks targets the socially awkward heir to brewery millions for his money, until one of them falls in love with him. It has all the hallmarks of Deco design from the opening credits to the Big White Sets of the production. I would also dress myself in my most extravagant black dress and permanently situate myself in dramatic pose number 8 if william powell wouldn’t allow me into his bedroom. MY MAN GODFREY Contributor Names Henry Koster (director) Frank Skinner (composer) Joseph Gershenson (music_supervisor) Created / Published USA. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA. During the Great Depression, Godfrey "Smith" (William Powell) lives alongside other men down on their luck in the city dump. I’m midway through a pretty intensive certification program, and the facilitator just revealed that 40% of our grade will be determined by a GROUP PROJECT heretofore undisclosed, extremely complex and due two weeks from Thanksgiving. The Criterion Challenge 11. Rod Crawford , If I was the sort of person who scrutinised every frame of my viewings looking for flaws, then I still wouldn't have issue here because My Man Godfrey has no cracks in its make up. David Walters 372 films 7,601 169 Edit. There were a number of beautiful and atmospheric shots, especially at the garbage dump in the beginning. The film was later remade in 1957, though the 1936 version is considered best. Review by frances vyvyan walkerden ★★★★★, i must confess, sometimes when i’m on the train i think of the scene from this where a water-drenched carole lombard runs around her bedroom jumping and repeatedly shrieking the phrase “godfrey loves me” and i try so hard to not laugh that i end up crying. Actor (Mischa Auer), Supp. A scatterbrained socialite hires a vagrant as a family butler - but there's more to Godfrey … I wish people still wrote gossip articles like Hatton Mann, "Cupid strikes in strange places, or words to that effect... and heigh-ho..”. Overview of My Man Godfrey, 1936, directed by Gregory La Cava, with William Powell, Carole Lombard, Alice Brady, at Turner Classic Movies Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. A scatterbrained socialite hires a vagrant as a family butler - but there's more to Godfrey than meets the eye. Perfectly capturing the distance between the snooty, frivolous and boisterous nature of the high upper class and the somehow optimistic spirit and struggling lack of opportunity the falls onto the less fortunate and unlucky. Soon, the dramatizing Irene is in love with her 'protege'...who feels strongly that a romance between servant and employer is out of place, regardless of that servant's mysterious past... Today in Oscar History: Mrs Miniver, Shape of Water, John Garfield, Oscars flashback 70 years to 1951: Bette Davis, Gloria Swanson, Anne Baxter All lose to Judy Holliday. While William Powell’s eponymous butler in My Man Godfrey is characterised as the “forgotten man”, perhaps the film’s director, Gregory La Cava (1892-1952) might more appropriately merit this title. this was a fun, easy and light watch, and i get the hype on this one. also, the blooper reel on the criterion edition is one minute of pure delight in which carole lombard and william powell swear at each other with stars in their eyes and I’m even more in love with them now than I was before, if that’s even possible. Perhaps a great screwball comedy can be made of Academy “logic.” In loving tribute, it could be called My Man Oscar. View production, box office, & company info. One of them, Libeled Lady, wasn’t nominated in any other category. I wish I could be somebody's Carlo... Peter Stanley 1,235 films 48,359 1391 Edit, All the films from all the editions, including those subsequently removed, presently totalling 1235. Was this review helpful to you? Take a look ahead at all the major movie releases coming to theaters and streaming this season. With William Powell, Carole Lombard, Alice Brady, Gail Patrick. Gregory La Cava’s sparkling screwball romantic comedy My Man Godfrey triumphs in both its quip-laced script and the soaring performances from the principal cast. Righteous. My Man Godfrey is a 1936 American hilarious comedy starring William Powell and Carole Lombard. Directed by Gregory La Cava. When an old flame turns up Irene's sister Cordelia starts making waves. Screwball comedies often depict social classes in conflict, as in It Happened One Night (1934) and My Man Godfrey (1936). William Powell is the “Godfrey” of the title. She falls for the charisma of down and out Godfrey Parke and gives him the job of Butler to the family Bullock. The laughs do not flow as much as in other screwball comedy's of its time which unfortunately hinder it. Powell was nominated for … Every film that has ever been nominated for an Academy Award in any category. My Man Godfrey premiered on 6 September 1936, and was released in the United States on 17 September. (1936). In the depths of the Depression, a party game brings dizzy socialite Irene Bullock to the city dump where she meets Godfrey, a derelict, and ends by hiring him as family butler. In the ballroo… Charles Rogers, head of Universal, called it "a sure-fire laugh-getting novel". But it is the costume design of the great Travis Banton that will really catch your eye. Not every joke landed for me; in terms of humor it was very hit or miss and some of the shenanigans felt dated. Would make a terrific double bill with Parasite. Join forces to con a beautiful perfume company owner through films of the best comedy director in Hollywood. time. Search for `` my Man Godfrey Contributor Names Henry Koster ( director ) frank (. 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